Received the following letters from John McAuliffe of the 87th Inf Div, and a follow up letter from our mutual friend Gilbert Stevenot.
Here are John's words:
[This message could only come from a soldier in the Weremacht and not indoctrinated in the SS .....considering that the SS could not possibly hold such beliefs...Considering how they treated and massacred Belgian and Luxembourg civilians etc..
"Mac"
Subject: German Officer's Message
"Let the world never live through such a Christmas night again!
Is there something more cruel than to die fighting, far from his children,
his wife and his mother ?
To take away a son from his mother, a husband from his wife, a father from
his children is not an honorable act by a human being. Life can only be
given and accepted by people who love and respect one another. Hopefully
universal fraternity will be brought into existance from this scene of ruins,
blood and death".
The above was found by a Belgian school teacher on his classroom blackboard near Bastogne written in German by a German Officer after the Battle of the Ardennes.
Here are Steve's words:
Dear John,
I have seen the blackbord, on which those wonderfully written thoughts were written, with his heart, of this unknown german officer. and if we face the facts at the situation realistically, we can think long about ! That german officer was a warm-hearted man, who had a sound education, in the heat of the battle. His handwrittting was surely the one of a teacher, and it was a Christmas message for all the belligerents.For sure he was not a SS. I have always associated this message to the one of General Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was the wise commander-in-chief of the allied forces, who said, " I hate war, as only a soldier could have lived it, but also to have lived its brutality, its futility, and its stupidity"
I have received two nice letters, this last days. I will meet, if I remain in good health, and not repeat my misfortune with you, dear John. I will meet two good friends General Albin Irzyk, who was the first to meet General Mc Auliffe, at the gates of Bastogne, just before the encirclement, but had to retreat on Patton's orders, and his friend General James Leach.They are coming from France, from Singling where they have both engaged a big battle, to dedicate a monument. They will be in Bastogne the 9th december,and perhaps the 10th, in my town Rochefort. James is a wonderful friend , he came twice in my town for private visit, and did not know that one of them was official, and so he became a freeman of the City. One more task for me, I will have to arrange a reception in Bastogne and perhaps one more in Rochefort.
I am proud of what I have done in the past years and still waiting for hottest future actions.I am proud to have met so much dear friends, on my way, friends like you, without distinction of ranks. Just the same way than you. You were in all the ceremonies just a pivate. No more no less. Thanks again for your last kind attention.To be, and remain a veteran of the Battle of the Bulge means a lot for me John.We live with our memories.
Till soon John, and best regards.
Proud Daughter of Walter (Monday) Poniedzialek
540th Engineer Combat Regiment, 2833rd Bn, H&S Co, 4th Platoon
There's "No Bridge Too Far"
